Roasting-furnace construction



Get. 22, MEQ,

' E; HALsE; ROA'STING FURNCE CONSTRUCTION l 4- Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 28, 1927 INVENTOR. .l Mmmm@ NM@ Miu ATTORNEY M MENEM i ma. 'Mmmm-2, mwdw ROASTING FURNACE CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 28, :1.927 l 4 sneefwshee 4 INI/EN TOR. 135 @www Ham@ Mb, ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST HALsn, or BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA. essieNort4 `ro BETHLEHEM .roUNDRY AND. MACHINE coMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA noAs'rINe-FURNACE coNsazrncrroN'`4` Application filed November 28, 1927. ,Serial No. 236,030, v

This invention relates generally to roasting furnaces of similar apparatus, formed with superposed hearths for carrying ore'or other material to be treated and in Which 5 means is provided for stirring the material and moving it over the hearths. Such means usually consists of a vertical rotating shaft having a plurality of arms which extend over the hearths and are provided with ploWs o r l0 rabbles that project downward into thematerial and serve to stir and move .the material as the shaft rotates. The principal object of this invention is to provide a means of this cl1aracter,'of improved construction, particulai-ly with respect to the construction of the shaft which holds `the stirring or rabble arms'.

In Vmeans of this character, heretofore employed, it has been the practice to provide for a circulation of cooling medium through the shaft and arms and for this purpose it is customary to form the shaft and arms with communicating passages designed to direct the flow of cooling medium therethrough. Passages in the shaft have also 5 been e1nployed,.in introducing air i'nto the furnace to assist in the combustion or oxidation of material on the hearths.` A further object of my invention is to provide a shaft of this character with an improved arrangement of passagestherein. Babble arms designed cf a cooling medium7 of which anumber of different types are now in use, are formed with interior passages ,and with inlet and outlet openings communicating respectively with supply and`diseharge passages-n the rotating shaft. Ihe particular location and arrangement of thepassages in the central d shaft has, in the past, been dependent on.

the type of arm employed. These types dif-` fer from one another in a number of respects, but particularly in respect to the'interior construction forming the circulating passages and to the location inthe arm of the inlet and outlet openings. For example, certain arms are formed With the inlet land outlet openings extending through the inner end of the arm; other arms have their` inlet and i0 outlet openings or both openings located at for the cil-cannon.

the side. or bottom or top ofthe arm near its inner end. The shaft constructed in accordance with the present invention is adapted for-use witharms of any of the types now employed andthe shaft is so constructed as 55 to provide lpassages which may be made to function as supply and discharge passages for the arms Whether theinlet and outlet openings are located at the end, bottom, top or .sides of the arms.

A further object of my invention is to provide animproved shaft of this character, With passages so constructed and arrangedas to permit a Wide latitude for the various air connections to the various arms. For ex-` ample, in employing my improved shaft, certain ofthe passages may be used as supply, or as discharge, passages for certain arms' vand other passages used as supply, or discharge, passages for other..arins.-`-`v Also, the arrangement of passages Vuch as to permit different cooling mediums tohe rsupplied to different arms, if desired.' Y 'The construction and arrangement of the `passages in the'shaft also permits air to be introduced from one or lmore of the passages, into theinterior of the furnace and this air may be cool air supplied from the outside atmospheraornit may be air which has been heated by'. passing thru one or more of theJrabble-arms. The different ways in `Wh" lin'maybe caused to flow thru the ndfotih'er` parts, as Well as `the purposes :tp accomplished thereby, vvill he more: fullyl explained hereafter.

A furtherobjectof my invention is to pro` 85 yide afshaft of this character with an im ,provedmeans'for ri idly securing the arms Aitogthe shaft. .Afurt 1er object is to provide "an improved shaft ofV this character which may be easily formed by casting, or if desired may be formed of fabricated steel plates riveted or Welded together.V A further object of my invention is to provide an improved shaft of this character Whiehis simple and economical in construction, and is strong and durable in use and one which will not Warp or otherwise be injuriously affected, when Y subjected to the intense heat in the furnace. Numerous other objects and advantages of my invention Will appear from the folloW- by the shaft;

ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing herein:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional View, partly broken away, showing a furnace shaft embodying oneform of my invention and showing rabble arms of one form i carried Figure 2 is a top plan view of one ofthe shaft sections shown in Figure 1; l

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line`3e3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a modified shaft lcarrying rabble arms of somewhat different form from those shown in Figure 1 and carrying pipes adapted to supply air to the interior of the furnace;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal central sectional View of a shaft and rabble arms, showing a furtner modification;

Figure 8 is a Viewl similar to Figure 5, but showing a still further modification;

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8;

Figures 10 and 11 are views similar respectively to Figures 8 and 9, but showing other modifications and Figure 12 is a transverse sectional view of a modified shaft showing rabble arms and an air supply pipe, carried by the shaft.

Referring to Figures v1 to 4, 10 represents a central furnace shaft carrying rabble arms 11. The shaft lO'is formed of metal sections 12 joined end to end by bolts 13 extending thru anges 14 at the ends of the sections and each of the sections 12 is composed of an outer cylindrical shell 15 and inner partitions 116, 1f?, 18 and 19 which extendlengthwise of the section. In the form of invention illustrated, partitions 16 to 19 are substantially V shaped in cross section and these partitions are united along their outer edges to the shell 15. It will be seen from Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10, that the shelland partitions form four passages 20, 21, 22 and 23, and a larger or central passage 25, all of which passages extend lengthwise of the shaft. Passages 2O to 23 are substantially triangular or inwardly tapering in crosssection and passage 25 which comprises a central portion 26 and lateral channels 27, 28, 29 and 30 is cruciform in cross on the section. The exact form of the larger pas sage which I term the central passage will, of course, depend upon the number of partitions employed. Thus in the form of shaft shown in Figure 12, I employ three partitions and the larger passage thus has three channels instead offour as shown in Figure 2.

The shaft sections 12 in the form of invention shown in Fi ures 1 to 4, are each adapted to hold four rab le arms. Two of the arms ifrsas are located in the same horizontal plane and are adapted to cooperate with one of the furnace hearths and the other two arms are located in a different horizontal plane and are adapted to cooperate with a different hearth. Each arm extends through the shell 15into one of the channels of the larger passage 25 and is received in a pocket or socket member, of which there are four, 32, 33, 34 and 35, located respectively in the channels 27, 28, 29

and 30 and spaced some distance inwardly of the rabble arm. In the form of invention shown, each of the walls 40 to 43 is formed integral with two adjacent partitions andthe two side walls 44 of the socket are formed by adjacent sides of these partitions. vide a support for the rabble arm where it passes through the shell 15, the shell is formed with an outwardly projecting boss 50 which is in alignment with the opening 46 of the socket. -The arm may be held in position in the boss and socket by any suitable means such as a pin 51 which extends through an opening 52 in the boss and into the arm 11.

The boss and socket member which'engage the rabble arm at points spaced some distance apart along the arm allow the arm a considerable purchase in the shaft and thus form a means for securely and rigidly holding the arm on the shaft and preventing its torsional movement.

It will be seen from Figures 1 to 4 that the inner end' of the rabble arm extends into one of the channels of the larger or central passage 25 and lies immediately adjacent two of the smaller passages of the shaft. rli`his position of the rabble arm relative to these passages affords facility for providing for communication between any of these passages and the interior of the arm, whether the opening in the arm leading to the interior is located at the extreme end or at the sides, top or bot-` tom of the arm. In Figure 1 the rabble arms are of the concentric tube type having an opening 60 at the extreme inner end which communicates with an inner passage 61 in the arm and having openings 62 at the bottom which communicate with an outer annular passage 63 in the arm. Passages 61 and 63 communicate with one another at the outer end of the arm (not shown) so that air entering one passage will be discharged thru the other;. thus providing a path for the circucation between two of the smaller passages of the shaft, located at opposite sides of thel socket and the interior of the socket which,

in turn, communicates with the inner passage 61 of the rabble arm. The bottom openings 62 in the rabble arm lead directly to the channels of the central passage.

With the parts constructed and arranged as, shown in Figures 1 to 4, the larger passage of the sockets and thru both side walls 44 of thesockets to the smaller lpassages of the shaft. It is obvious that if desired the direction of flow may be reversed n. which case the smaller passages will be supply passages `and the larger passage the discharge passage. VIn this latter case, by eliminating certain of the openings in the side walls of the sockets, any one of the smaller'passages of the shaft may be made to function as a supply passage for some one or more of'the arms while some other smaller passage may be made to function as a supply passage for some other arm or arms.

With air as a cooling medium, it is some- `times advisable to employ the large passage as a supply passage. This passage, particularly in large furnaces is of a sulticient size to permit a workman to enter the passage. When this passage is used as a supply passage it is constantly supplied with a current of cool air and as a result a Workman may enter the passage to make inspection or repairs, without discomfort ,even while the furnace is operating.

In Figures 5 to 12, l have illustrated a number of modifications of the structure shown in Figures 1 to el, suchmodiications involving a similargeneral arrangement of parts of the central shaft and a similar general disposition of passages in the shaft. These modifications serve to illustrate, more particularly, the adaptability of the shaft for use with different arrangements or groupings of the arms about the shaft and the adaptability of the shaft to hold arms of different types and they also illustrate the different ways in which' air may be caused to flow through the shaft, arms and other parts ,of the apparatus.

Figure 5 shows two rabble arms 70 and 71 and two hollow arms or pipes 72 and 78, through which air may be supplied from the centralshaft to the interior1 of the furnace. rlhe rabble arm 7 0 is ofthe same general construction as the arms 11 in Figure 1.-

lhe inner end of the arm 7 0 is positioned in a socket or holding member 74 of the same general construction as the socket members shown in Figure 1 and similarly located in respect to the central passage 25. The rabble arm 71 is similar to the'arm 70 except that the annular passage in the arm 71 opens at the sides of the arm instead of at the bottom.

The inner en d of the arm 71 is'seated in a circular opening 75 which extends through the rear wall 76 of the socket. Between the wall 76 and the shell 15 are top and bottom members 7 8 which cooperate with the partitions 16 and 17 to form a chamber 80 which communicates through openings 81 and. 82 with the passages 20 and 21 respectively of the shaft, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Tube 73 is held in any 'suitable manner in the boss 85 and this tube as will be seen from Figure 5 communicates directly with the larger -passage 25. Tube 72 communicate.c through openings 87 in its sides and through corresponding openings 88 in the partitions 16 and 19 with passages 20 and 23 respectively, of the shaft. The passage through the arm 7 2 is closed4 at its inner end and the inner end of the arm is held in a chamber 90 of similar form to the chamber 80; thus preventing direct communication between the passage 25 and the interior of the arm 72.

I have shown in Figure 5 by means of arrows, the paths which the air may take in passing through the various passages. The smaller shaft passages 20 to 23 are shown as supply passages. Air flows from passages 22 and 23 through openings in partitions 18 and 19 to the interior of the soket 74, thence through the inner and outer passages of hollow arm 7 0 in succession, thence through the opening 91 in the bottom of arms 7 0 and is discharged as hot air into the large pas sage 25.l Likewise air flows from `passages 2O and 21 through the sides of rabble arm 71, through the arm 71 and is discharged ashot air from the central passage of the arm into the large passage 25 of the shaft. I-lot air in the passage 25 is discharged through pipe 73 into the interior of the furnace where it :may be used to promote oxidation of the ore or other material being treated. By introducing into the furnace, air which has pre viously passed through the arms 76 and 71.l theheat of the exhaust air from such arms, instead of being wasted is utilized in the furnace. 'lhe pipe 7 2 serves to supply cool air to the interior of the furnace directly from the supply passages 26 and 28.

Figurep shows a construction similar to Figure 5 except that the rabble arm 95 located at theleft, instead of hatfingside openings communicating with the annular passage in the arm, as is the case with arm 71 in Figure 5, has an opening 96 in the top of the arm.v Means is shown in Figure 7 for permitting the flow of air from the annular passage in the arm to the passage 26 in the shaft.

-Members 98, 99 and 100 extending across the channel 27 serve to form a chamber into which air from/the opening at the top of the rabble arm may flow and from which air may flow to the passage 20 through an opening 103 in the V shaped partition.

Figures 8 and 9 show rabble arms 110 and 111 each having an interior horizontal partition extending across the inside of the arm and dividing it into upper and lower passages. The upper passage in the arm opens at its inner end intol the larger passage 25 in the shaft and the lower passage in the arm 110 opens through the bottom of the arm into a chamber 114 which is in communication thru openings in partitions 16 and 17 with the vsmaller passages 2O Tand 21 respectively, in

the shaft. The lower passage of the arm 111 opens into -the passage 25 and the upper passage of the arm 111 opens through the top of the arm into a chamber 115,.`similar to the chamber 114. Chamber 115 is incommunication with the shaft passages 22 and 23 through openings in the' partitions 1S and 19 respectively. Arrows in Figures 8 and 9 show the directions of flow. Air flows from the passages 22 and-23 into the chamber 115, thence through the top of the arm 111 and through the arm into passage 25. Air flows from the passages 2O and 21 into the arm 110 through thegbottom of the:` rm, thence through the arm 110 and is discharged into the passage 25.

In Figures 10 and 11 are shown two abble arms and 121 having vertical partitions therein which divide the arms into two side passages.. These passages in arm 110 both open through the side 'of the arm and communicate respectivelywithpassages 2O and 21 in the shaft f One of the passages in the arm 121 communicates through the side of the arm with the passage 22 of the shaft. The other passage in the arm 121'communicates with the passage 25 in the shaft through the end of the arm. As shown by arrows indicating the directions of fiow, passages 20 and 22 are 'supply passages for the arms and passages ing the shaft into a large central passage 125 and three smaller passages 126, 127 and 128. Passage 126 is shown as .communicating directly with a tube 130. through which air may be supplied to the interior of the furnace. The three rabble arms 135, 136 and 137, are

all of the same general construction, each having two interior passages, one of which opens through the end of the arm into the and thus serre as a means for the introduction of air into the furnace.

Cooling medium may tlow from the central passage 125 through the various arms and thence to passages 126, 12T and 128 respectire ly. In case hot air arms are used the air may then liow from passages 126, 127 and 128 into the interior of the furnace.

The reference in the foregoing description, to the flow of iluid in specific directions, is merely illustrative of the various ways in which iuid may be caused to flow through the diti'erent passages. Thus in any of the, instances given. itis obvious that, if desired, the tiow ma)v be reversed.

While in the foregoing description, air has been referred to as the coolingiinedium for the rabble arms, it will be `understood that, if desired, water may be employed for this purpose.

It will also be understood that any of the combinations of the various means of communication for the coolingv medium shown may be used or similar combinations or n eans without departing from the spirit oll the invention as set forth in the following claims.

l claim: l

1. A roasting furnace shaft formed with a series of longitudinal passages located inside and adjacent its periphery and a passage located inside said series and formed with longitudinal channels extending between adjacent passages of said series, and means for securing hollow rabble arms to said shaft each in close proximity to a channel and to two adjacent passages of said series, said means being formed with openings to provide communication between said arms and passages in proximity thereto.

2. A cast metal furnace shaft section adapted to carry rabble arms, comprising an outer wall and a series of longitudinally extending interior partitions, said partitions being approximately V shaped in cross section and being united along their edges to said wall and thereby forming a plurality of passages in said .shaft extending substantially the length of the section, the walls of the passages havingopenings therein to provide for flow between the passages and points external thereto.

.3. A central furnace shaft adapted to `carry rabble arms, comprising an outer wall and a series of longitudinal interior partitions spaced from one another, said partitions being approximately V shaped in cross section and being united along their edges to said wall and said shaft being provided titl with hollow-arm holding sockets located between said partitions and formed in part by adjacent walls of adjacent partitions, said partitions extending beyond said sockets and forming separate longitudinal passages in said shaft and said sockets being formed with openings to provide communication between said passages and the interiors of 'said arms. i

ll. A roasting furnace shaft formed with a series of longitudinal passages therein, another passage therein having longitudinal channels extending between adjacentpassages of said series and rabble arni holding means located in a channel between adjacent passages of said series and rabble arms held by said means, said arms'being formed with circulating passages therein, communicating with the interior of said shaft to provide for the circulation of cooling medium from said shaft thru said arms.

5. A roasting furnace shaft formed with a series of longitudinal passages therein, another passage therein formed with longi. tudinal channels extending between adjacent passages of said series and rabble arm holding means located in channels between adj acent passages of said series and rabble arms held by said means, said arms being formed with circulating passages and inlet and outlet openings for said passages, one of said openings ertendingjthru an end of the arm and comnuinicatimgr with one of the passages and the other of said openings extending thru a. side wall of theY arm, and communicating with another passage, thereby providing for the flow of a cooling medium from a passage in said shaft, thru an arm and thence into another passage in said shaft.

6. In a roasting furnace, a central shaft formed with a series of longitudinal passages therein, another passage 4therein formed with longitudinal channels located between adjacent passages of said series and a pludil liti

rality of rabble arm holding means located in channels between adjacent passages of said series, 'a plurality of rabble arms held by said means, said arms being formed with pas sages for the circulation of cooling air therethrough, and a pipe secured to said shaft and projecting into said furnace, said parts being formed with openings to provide for the flow of cooling air from a passage in said shaft thru said arm into another passage in said shaft and the discharge of said air from said other passage thru said pipe into said furnace.

il central furnace shaft having an outer wall and interior partitions forming a series of longitudinal passages therein, another pas-v sage therein having'longitudinal channels located between adjacent passages of said series, rabble arm holding sockets, each having side walls formed by said partitions, a vertical wall eatending across a channel and formed with an opening for the reception of a rabble arm and top and bottom Walls extending across said channel, one of said walls being formed with an opening for providing com- 9. A central'shaft for roasting furnaces comprising an outer wall and interior partitions forming two longitudinal passages and a third longitudinal passage located adjacent to and between 'said two passages, a plurality of rabble arm holding means located substantially wholly in said third passage and hollow rabble arms held by said means, the t parts being formed with openings to provide communication between passages and the interiors of said rabble arms.

10. central furnace shaft for roasting furnaces formed with a. series of relatively small longitudinal passages located inside and adjacent its periphery and a'relatively large central passage formed with longitudinal channels extending between adjacent passages of said series and means to support a plurality of hollow rabble arms with ends of the arms extending into said channels, said means being constructed so -as to permit a flow of cooling medium from said central passage tothe interior of an arm and to permit flow between the small passages and points external thereto.

1i. A central furnace shaft having an outer wall and two partitions extending inwardly from saidwall. said partitions entending substantially the length of said shaft and forming between them a longitudinal passage in said shaft, and said wall being formed with an' opening communicating with said passage and adapted to receive a rabble arm and the walls of said opening being adapted to engage and hold said arm and additional means for holding said arm, locatedV in said shaft and spaced inwardly from said outer wall.

12. A central furnace shaft having an outer wall and two partitions extending inwa rdl y from said wall, sai d partitions entending substantially the length of said shaft and forming between them a longitudinal passage in said shaft, said wall being formed with an opening communicating with said passa-ge and adapted to receive a rabble arm and the walls of said opening being adapted to engage and hold said arm and additional means for holding said arm, said means consisting of a.

llti

socket member located in said shaft and spaced inwardlyv from said outer wall.

4413. A roasting furnace cylindrical shaft containing conduits extending substantially the length of the shaft and means forming sockets between the conduits for receiving rabble arms and holding said rabble .arms rigidly against torsional movement, opposite side Walls of a socket being formed by adjacent side walls of two of the conduits.

14. A roasting furnace cylindrical shaft containing a plurality of conduits extending substantially the length of the shaft and means forming sockets between the conduits for receiving hollow rabble arms and holding said rabble arms rigidly against torsional movement, opposite walls of the socket being formed by adjacent side walls of two conduits andthe said conduits having apertures correspending to apertures in the rabble arms for the circulation of cooling medium.

15. A hollow, furnace shaft section having a plurality of spaced interior partitions extending along a substfntial part of 'the section, Asaid partitions being joined along their outer edges to the outer wall of the section and the inner edges-of the partitions being joined together so as to form a plurality of peripheral passages and a central passage having channelsextending between adjacent peripheral passages, hollow rabble arms connected through the outer wall of the shaft and formed with openings communicating with passages and the wallsof each passage being formed with an opening to permit flow between the passage and a point external thereto.

.16.v A furnace shaft formed inside with a plurality of inwardly tapering peripheral passages extending a substantial part of the length of the shaft and a passage located inside said peripheral passages and having channels extending between adjacent peripheral passages, a wall of each passage being formed'with an opening to provide communication between the interior of the passages andfdifferent parts of the furnace.

17. A hollow furnace shaft having three or more peripheral passages which are spaced from one another so as to form channels between them, hollow rabble arms conneeted to said shaft at points 'at `opposite sides of a peripheral passage and means in the channels at opposite sides' of said last named passage for providing communication A'between said last named passage and the in- 1 terior of the rabble arms, and walls of said other passages being formed with openings to provide communication between said other passages and points external thereto.

18.1A hollow furnace shaft having a plurality of spaced interior partitions extending a substantial part of the length of the shaft, said partit-ions being joined along their outer edges to the outer wall of `the shaft and the inner edges of the partitions being oined together so as to form a plurality of peripheral passages and a central space having channels extending between adjacent peripheral passages, hollow rabble arms connected through the outer wall of the shaft at said channels, a wall of each passage having an opening to provide communication between the interior of the passages and different parts of the furnace and means communicating with certain of said openings for providing for a flow between said passages and the interior of the arms.

Signed at Bethlehem in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania this 22nd day of November A. Dl 1927.

ERNEST HALSE. 

